Disclaimer: Nothing related to Hawaii Five-0 belongs to me. I'm just having some fun with Steve and Danno.

Post Impact

By: Vanessa Sgroi

Steve McGarrett moaned, shifted under the debris that covered him. He shoved aside the bigger pieces weighing him down and pushed himself into sitting position with a grunt, swallowing hard when the world tilted and swayed crazily all around him. Steve attempted to stand and failed spectacularly when both his head and right side protested with extreme prejudice. Whoa! What the hell happ'ned? He licked his dry lips and blinked, trying to clear his blurry vision. Quick flashes of fire, heat, and pressure drifted through the fog in his mind—enough for him to conclude explosion but little else.

"McGarrett!"

Through the lingering roar filling his head, Steve finally heard his name being called repeatedly and opened his mouth to answer. When all that came out was a hoarse croak, he growled in frustration. He cleared his throat, coughed, and pulled in as much air as his injured ribs would allow and tried again. "Here! I'm here!" The exertion forced another cough.

It wasn't much, but it was enough to garner Danny's attention. Weaving through the destruction, he reached Steve's side in a couple of minutes. "Hey, you okay?"

"Uhh, yeah. Yeah, I'm fine."

"If you're fine, why're you bleeding?"

"I'm not bleeding."

Danny reached out and touched the ragged gash in Steve's upper arm. Drawing back his hand, he waved two bloody fingers at his partner. "Hate to tell you but you kinda are."

"Am not—"

"What—are you trying to be all macho here?"

"Am not. Doesn't look like mine."

"Huh?"

Steve blinked and cocked his head to the side. "'S too…um…blue."

Danny finally got a good look at McGarrett's glassy, unfocused eyes. Ahhh, concussion. "Okay, it's too blue and not yours. Got it. Think you can walk?" Danny reached down and helped Steve to his feet, steadying him when he swayed.

"'course. Been doin' it since I was…mmm…forever." McGarrett took a step and his knees buckled.

Danny tightened his grip. "Well, it looks like you need more practice."

"Not now. 'm too t'red."

"Later. We'll practice later."

"Good." Steve closed his eyes, shutting out the swirling landscape. His complexion took on a distinct greenish tinge.

"You gonna hurl?"

"N-No." The emphatic denial was immediately put to rest when McGarrett bent double and vomited. Black spots invaded his vision.

Grimacing down at the outside edge of his shoe, Williams muttered, "Aww, man, that's just nasty."

Covering the last few yards practically carrying Steve, Danny delivered him over to the waiting EMT's, helping to ease the injured man down on the stretcher. "Take good care, of him, all right? He's my partner."

The corner of McGarrett's mouth ticked upward ever so briefly before the encroaching darkness swallowed him whole.